Cutter mechanism for reapers



(No Model.)

L. W. CLARK. GUTTER MBGHANISM FOR REAPERS.

Patented Dec. 6, 1887` Suus/M1701; n

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYMAN \VILSON CLARK, F ALBANY, OREGON.

CUTTER MECHANISM FOR REAPERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,397. dated December 6, 1887.

Application filed July I6, ISM'.

I'o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYHAN WILSON CLARK, of Albany, in the county of Linn and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful 1m provements in Glitter Mechanisms for Reapers; and I do hereby declare that the follow'- ing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form part of this spcci iication, in which- Figure 1 is atop plan detail view of my improved cutting device for reaping-machines,

Athe top plate being partly broken away to show the drivewheel for the cutters. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the saine. Fig. 3 isa detail cross-section, enlarged. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the cutters detached.

This invention relates to improvements in cutting devices for reaping and mowing inachines; and it has for its objects to provide a cutting device in which are employed aseries 's of movableindependent cutters, forming when in operation an endless-belt cutter-bar.

Theinvention further consists in the peculiar construction of the said cutters and inthe devices for operating and retaining them in the proper position, all of which will be fully understood from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and particularly specified in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A designates the bed-plate of the device, which has its outer edge lying in the plane usually occupied by the ordinary reciprocating cutter-bars of rcapers and similar machines. rlhis plate is provided near its periphery and in its upper face with the continuous groove or channel B, the front edge, b, of which runs close to and parallel with the front. edge of plate A for a distance correspondingr to the width of thc swath o1' ordinarily cutting sweep of the machine. At the opposite ends of plate A the groove B is rounded on equal arcs C C, which are united by the portion c ofthe groove, which runs parallel with the part b thereof. The groove B thus completed forms one continuous and unbroken channel, asis obvious. At the opposite ends of plate A, in its upper sur- Scrinl No. 244,438.

(No model.)

face and within the bends C C of the groove B, are formed the circular depressions or sinks D D, which correspond in diameter to the diameter of the circles on which arcs C C are formed, and the bottoms of sinks D D are about flush with the bottom of groove B. In these sinks D arejournaled upon suitable shafts t-he wheels E E, the peripheries of which are provided with notches e e, hereinafter referred to and at corresponding distances apart. The shafts ot wheels E E are preferably extended through their journalbearings on plate G, and one or both of the shafts of these wheels are provided above plate G with proper gearings for rotating said wheels, (not shown in t-he drawings.) as any convenient device may be employed for rotating one or both of said wheels from any proper source of power.

F F designate the cutters proper, which are cach composed of a triangular or other proper shape blade having its inner end squared and provided with the downwardly-depending lips or lugsf f, as shown, there being preferably two of these lugs for each cutter, and situated at corresponding distances apart,and from the ends of the blade, as shown, the outer or front edges of the cutters F are properly sharpened. The cutters F F are set in posit-ion for use by placing them upon plate A, with their lugsf entcrin0r the rroove B and a sufficient num- D 7 ber of these cutters are employed to completely fill said groove, the notches e e in wheels E E receiving these lugs when the cutters F are at the ends C C of the groove, as shown.

G designates a top plate or covering secured on plate A, abovel cutters F and wheels E, being preferably mounted on washers r/ g, as shown, so as to not bind on the wheels or on the cutters, but yet will eectuall y prevent the escape of either from the groove B or sinks D. The front edge of plate G is Hush with the edge of plate A, and the cutters F F are of such size that their cutting-edges project beyoud the edges of said plates, and consequently are not hindered in their action thereby.

H designates the guardngers for the cutters F F, secured as shown, or in other suitable manner, to the front edge of pla'te A, and arranged to permit the cutters F F to play freely through their slots, as is evident.

The operation of the device is as follows:

ICC

Upon the actuation of one or both wheels E, the cutters F F engage in the notches e e therein by their lugs ff, are moved around therewith in groove B, and as the groove is filled with said cutters the cutters in front of the cutters advanced by wheel are pushed forward and transmit the forward motion to all the cutters in said groove, so that they receive a continuous movement in said groove, and when only one wheel E is actuated the movements of the cutters F will canse the rotation of the opposite wheel E, so that there is no retardation or strain of the parts. In other words, the wheels E successively catch the eutters from one part, b or c, of groove B and force them around to the opposite portion, this action transmitting movement to all the cutters in said groove. The Cutters F F, being diseonneeted,cau be made very light. Consequently they can be moved atgreater speed and with less power than would be the case were they linked together, as in such eases the cutters have to be made very heavy, in order to give them sulieient strength to drag the succeeding cutters connected therewith when they-are operated.

ln my invention it will be observed that there is no pulling strain on the cutters-only pushing. Consequently their weight can be greatly lessened.

By having the cutters independent they can be easily removed for replacing, repairs, or for sharpening, and there are no rivets orjoints to work loose, necessitating annoying and expensive delays in repairing. It will also be 0bserved that the lugs ff of cutters F F not only retain the cutters in position in groove B and guide them'therein, but they are. also the means by which the cutters can be actuated by the Wheels E E. The bends of grooveBare made of sufficient diameter to preventbinding ofthe cutters in passing therethrough.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The improved cuttermeehanism for reapers herein described, consisting of a bedplate having a continuous groove, l, in its upper surface, the notched wheels E, rotatingin countersinks at and within the bends of groove B,

the independent cutters F, provided willi depending lugsf, for engaging in groove B and with the notches of whcelsE, and the top plate, G, for retaining the cutters in said groove, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the bettplate A. havinggrooveB and sinks I) l), and thewhcels E E, having notches e e in their peripheries, journaled in said sinks l), and suitable devices t'or rotating said wheels, el' the independent cutters F F, provided with lugsf, for engaging groove B and the notches r' of the wheels, and the top plate, G, for retaining said cutters in position, all constructed and arranged substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

In testimony that: I claim the foregoing as my own I aiiix my .signature in presence of two witnesses.

LYBIAN \\'ILSO.\' CLARK.

Witnesses:

J. K. WmrnnroRD, I). R. N. BLMKBURN. 

